Rivers rank among some of the most threatened ecosystems in the world, and are the focus of costly restoration programmes. Yet only half the EU surface waters have met the WFD’s 2015 target of good ecological status, due in part to the fragmentation of habitats caused by tens of thousands of dams and weirs which also pose a flood hazard and several management issues as well. But barriers also provide energy, water, fishing and leisure opportunities, and may also help to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species. Improving stream connectivity has been flagged as one of the priorities for more efficient stream restoration but effective rehabilitation of ecosystem functioning in European rivers needs to take the complexity and tradeoffs imposed by barriers into account.

The AMBER project (H2020) will deliver innovative solutions to river fragmentation in Europe by developing more efficient methods of restoring stream connectivity through adaptive barrier management based on the integration of programme design, management, and monitoring to systematically test assumptions about barrier mitigation, adapt and learn.

This launch introduces the AMBER project to institutions dealing with river connectivity, river restoration and river science and management in general. Beyond the launch of the AMBER project, this event has the scope to present and share research experiences in the field of natural resources management, in particular concerning the issue of river system connectivity.

Please, note that registration is required on: COMM-REP-MIL@ec.europa.eu